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The courtroom drama surrounding Matthew Lanz continues to unfold in Cobb County, Georgia, as he stands trial for the alleged murder of a firefighter and his wife. This case has captured the community’s attention due to the tragic loss of Justin and Amber Hicks, who were well-regarded in their Acworth neighborhood.
As previously covered by CrimeOnline, Lanz is accused of the 2021 fatal shooting of the couple, a crime that left their community in shock. Adding to the gravity of the charges, Lanz is also accused of cruelty to children, as he allegedly fled the scene, leaving the Hicks’ 2-year-old child alone with the bodies for an extended period.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution introduced police interviews with Lanz’s parents, Scott and Theresa Lanz. Theresa recounted her son’s struggles, highlighting his pursuit of mental health support. Meanwhile, Scott Lanz described his son’s troubling behavior, noting that Matthew was experiencing hallucinations and delusions.
Complicating the trial, a forensic psychologist testified in October that Lanz suffers from schizophrenia. Despite this diagnosis, the court determined that he is competent to face the charges against him, as reported by Court TV.
In October, a forensic psychologist told the court that Lanz suffered from schizophrenia, but a judge found him competent to stand trial, Court TV reports.
Both parents told investigators that Lanz and his brother, Austin Lanz, had been obsessed on the Hicks’ home, but appeared stunned when they learned that Matthew Lanz had killed the couple.
In April 2021, Austin Lanz broke into the home before the Hicks bought the property in September 2021. Months later, he took his own life after killing Pentagon police officer George Gonzalez, 37.
Theresa Lanz said that she had “never even met them,” referring to the Hicks family.
The prosecution told the court that DNA evidence and security footage placed Matthew Lanz at the crime scene, along with DNA evidence on a firearm.
Prosecutors showed the court the security footage of Lanz driving around the Hicks’ Acworth property on November 17, 2021, the same night they were murdered. The video also showed him walking around the property.
According to Atlanta’s News First, Justin worked over six years as a Cherokee County firefighter. Amber was an audiology assistant. The couple had a 2-year-old son.
Investigators said they found the toddler inside the home, soaked in blood, crying, and trying to cuddle the bodies of his deceased parents.
A few days later, police arrested Lanz after he allegedly broke into a Sandy Springs residence. When an officer responded to the scene, Lanz reportedly stabbed the officer several times in the neck and back; another officer then shot him.
Matthew Lanz’s defense lawyer has claimed that Lanz thought he was being “set up” by government agencies, such as the CIA and FBI.
Lanz requested a bench trial, meaning a judge will render the verdict.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
[Featured Photo: Hicks couple/Facebook]